Help! Plant related

[DigitalPunk]

what lights did you get and I can tell you what the color temp of it is.

[awelcome]

this one

Amazon.com : Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Mini Compact Fluorescent (13 watts) : Pet Habitat Lights : Pet Supplies

[DigitalPunk]

Ok This is not a bulb you want to use.

1. Dart (as well as most amphibians) don't benefit from UVB. Not to mention any glass on top of the tank will just filter the UVB out.

2. It is not a bulb for plants.

3. It will dry the air out in your tank (reduce the humidity)


What light hood are you using. I will link you a bulb to get to use in the tank. Also refresh me on the size of your tank. I think its a 12x12x12 or something right?

[awelcome]

Figures... another pearl of wisdom from the pet store employee.....

The enclosure is 12x12x18 and I am using the zoomed hood that fits it... one bulb spot.

[DigitalPunk]

Love them pet stores!

Ok you can do this - The Jungle Dawn LED 11W.

or

Plant growth compact fluorescent Bulb - 23W

Both can be found on this page

New England Herpetoculture LLC - Bulbs (Vivarium)

or

This one

http://www.amazon.com/BeamsWork-Sing...amswork+led+12


I would recommend the LED. They cost more, but last a LOT longer, make the tank look great, and use less energy! If you go with the one from amazon I would take the bulb and hood you have back to the pet store and return it. If they ask why tell them you were advised to buy the wrong equipment and you are correcting their error.

[awelcome]

Thanks so much for the links... I will have to look at them in the morning to make a decision. Dh will be thrilled that I have to buy more stuff lol.

[DigitalPunk]

I can all but guarantee your plants and frog will love you for it though. If you don't get a new bulb. Even the cheaper CFL is better than what you have. If you don't change the bulb all your plants will slowly wilt away and die. Then you will need a bulb and more plants.

[awelcome]

I know you suggested I perhaps switch over to Hydei flies, and I guess if I was going to order a light it might be a good time to consider it now..... except that it's still so hot I will for sure have to order express which is more $$. I have a couple questions though.... do I NEED to switch over now or any time soon, or can I just keep feeding the M. ones? Allowing to space out more purchases makes it easier to keep DH happy.... I did want to know though.... you mentioned that they used less food. Could you elaborate on that?

[DigitalPunk]

I meant it takes less flies to get your cobalt full

You don't have to do it now. She is eating what you have so don't feel rushed to do it. and I'm not even sure express is needed, but if you order the light from NeHerp you might as well add a ff culture to maximize the products vs the shipping charge.

[awelcome]

I thought about it... but then I was reading their site and they suggest M. for beginners for the learning curve, and being a beginner I am not sure I want to try it at this point. I am going to order more containers though, and an additional lb of the media. The bag of excelsior they gave me will last quite a while, but I can see the media running out faster.

[DigitalPunk]

Always best to have extra of everything on hand. Keep an eye on how much your frog eats. If you find you are nearly out of flies in 2 cultures before your next ones start producing make an extra one the next time. Always better to throw flies away than to be panicking about running out of flies.

[awelcome]

yeah until I get the hang of things, I don't mind running to the pet store to get a spare culture if need be. I decided another reason to wait on the H. flies is the weather... if I don't want to try express shipping on them I would rather wait til it's not so hot. Btw I went with the LED from NEherp that will work with my hood, so between that and the extra supplies I made the shipping more worth it.

[flybyferns]

"I think I am just going to try to be patient for now and see how things unfold in a few weeks/months. " Perfect !

[awelcome]

That is, as long as the frog is doing well, which she seems to be. I can always revert to fake plants to fill in if I lose one and it's too open, or whatever and hopefully this new light will help turn things around. I would love to do well with the plants I have, but it's the frog that matters most.

[Tongue Flicker]

Everyone got you covered in the natural and mechanical aspects hehe. Just curious, when you said you had rotten base parts does it:

1. Look black - smells like the stench of very dirty aquarium seasand?

Or

2. Looks brown - smells like rotten okras with a very slick and slimy look & feel?

[awelcome]

I don't know what either of those smells like.... but I would say more brown and slick.

[Tongue Flicker]

I don't know what either of those smells like.... but I would say more brown and slick.

Hmm in the past, i normally notice the brown and slick rotting from excessive watering, water stagnation or exposure to highly chlorinated water. Mostly from my broms. Since that day, i kept all my broms' cups water-free since i have them by my window (kinda hard if they're inside a viv though lol)

How are your plants faring btw?